The vicious cycle. How do you get through?

Ruchgupt

I have been losing weight and gaining weight intermittently for the past year, after losing about 30 pounds from my 4"9 frame earlier. Everytime I break 5 pounds lost, I find myself falling off the wagon and gaining it right back. I have these intense weeks where I am in the zone, working out regularly, eating healthy, feeling great...then one day will throw me off, and suddenly, it's like my brain just gives up!

Intellectually, I know I have to stop making excuses and falling off the wagon like this. I make the choice alone. But I'm trying to figure out good ways to a) forestall any further wagon falls, despite frequent travel, emotional ups-and-downs, and going to New Orleans in a week; and b) if I do have a bad day, like a REALLY bad day, how do I recover?

Anyone else in vicious cycles? Anyone have ways to overcome emotional eating, the true culprit behind my bad eating habits?

charliesmagic

You and I could be twins honey. I started my weight loss journey in 2009 weighing 233 lbs on my 5'2" frame. I signed up for Quick Weightloss Centers and lost about 70 lbs in 2 years. The diet was a severe reduction in calories, supplements and almost daily exercise and journaling. The exercise wasn't necessary according to the QWLC staff, but I wanted this to be a REAL life change. I wanted to not only learn about my body and how food affected it, how to eat to live instead of living to eat, I also wanted to develop some good healthy habits along the way.

As I said, I lost about 70 lbs, but it took me 2 years despite the name of the program "Quick Weightloss". I would do well all week long and then come the weekend I would totally slack and gain back a pound or two. This slowed my progress but it didn't stop it. I was able to take the time to learn about food and my body, but I didn't learn the big lesson: Consistency is key.

I would reward myself for my achievements with food or have an all day cheat fest and then live to regret it. How backwards is that? But I did it and sometimes still do. I am now at 178.8 pounds (as of this morning's weigh in) and I am resolved to just do it already! I will be 35 this November and I want to see myself on the other side of this thing. I know I will have my trip ups but I am going to do my best to not surrender everything because I had some candy or I ate a cheeseburger.

Some advice - - Mind you I try to follow this daily and practice what I preach. This is a fight, a war. Living healthy and being fit isn't an easy task to master. The fact that you have even attempted it deserves recognition. The fact that you KEEP trying deserves even bigger praise. The best advice I can give you is to remember that you are a HUMAN BEING. You will make mistakes, trip and sometimes fall off the wagon. The important thing is to not get run over by the wagon wheels. Get up, dust yourself off and get back on it.

You WILL have bad days. You WILL be stressed. When this happens and you feel yourself thinking about eating that certain something (for me it is chocolate), try and stop and think "WHY am I stressed?" Try to identify the problem and deal with IT before IT deals with YOU. Chew gum. Drink water or a good size glass of hot tea. If after this you still want whatever that thing is, then have it. But a SMALL amount. Try eating the snack sizes of whatever it is you crave or a 100 calorie pack. Maybe keep a daily stash of a few small bits or a 100 calorie pack in your desk just in case. Challenge yourself to go 3 days or a week without eating it. If you succeed, reward yourself with a manicure, home spa treatments, a new accessory or clothing item, sleeping in on the weekend, etc.

Try and set daily or even hourly goals for yourself. Don't focus on all what you have to or want to lose. Small moves. Slow and steady wins the race...

Most importantly, be patient and kind to yourself. This is a difficult and long process. The hard work WILL pay off. Every day I come on this site and I read the boards and blogs, especially the success stories and I get inspired and motivated. I am reminded that I am not alone on this journey and that although it is a difficult road there are people who have done it and so can I. So can you!!! :flowerforyou: